Joy of Music School

Music Notes – Newsletter

Category Archives: Volunteers

Without volunteer music teachers, there would be no Joy of Music School. They are the heart and soul of the organization!


by Leave a comment

Making Beautiful Music Together

Becca and Will Doran

The Dorans

 

It seems only fitting that Becca and Will Doran give their time so generously as volunteer teachers at the Joy of Music School. After all, the couple met when they shared the same piano teacher at James Madison University, where they were classical piano performance majors. Becca began teaching at the School in the spring of 2013, and talked Will into joining her last year. They both teach piano to two students a week.

“My students have all been so unique and watching them grow through a semester or a year is really fantastic,” says Becca. “They have always made me feel like I’m a special part of their lives, and I try to be a good role model for them.” “I love the enthusiasm my students have for music and learning in general,” adds Will, who recently earned his masters degree in studio music and jazz at the University of Tennessee. In addition to teaching piano lessons, he is music director at Fourth United Presbyterian Church. Becca is a full-time graduate student, working on a degree in information sciences at UT. She hopes to work as a children’s librarian, so she can add a love of books to the list of wonderful things that she will pass on to future generations.

Click here go to to the top post.


by Leave a comment

Big Ears Festival Lends a Big Hand

Simeon Coxe of Silver Apples teaching JoMS students.

Simeon Coxe of Silver Apples teaching JoMS students.

Knoxville’s 2015 Big Ears Festival was not just a huge hit among music fans. It was highly supportive of our mission at the Joy of Music School.

“We felt it was important to give back to the community through local organizations focused on music and the arts,” says Neeley Rice, Community Programs Organizer at the event’s producer, AC Entertainment. “The Joy of Music School was a natural fit.”

Through its “Little Ears” project, the festival donated a portion of ticket sales to the Joy of Music School as well as Knoxville’s Community School of the Arts. Big Ears also gave us a few passes to the shows for our students and volunteer teachers, and it allowed students and family members to sit in on four Kronos Quartet rehearsals!

We got a special treat the day before Big Ears, when the pioneering electronic duo Silver Apples came by the School for a performance and discussion. Saturday of the festival, Found Sound Nation invited our kids to record at its open air studio in downtown Knoxville, posting the results at foundsoundnation.org.

Let’s give a big hurrah, too, to our friends at Tomato Head. They contributed net proceeds from their sale of commemorative Big Ears pint glasses, and their Market Square and Bearden restaurants displayed photos of our kids practicing and performing.

 

Click here go to to the top of the whole newsletter.


by Leave a comment

The Family that Landscapes Together…

CoatesPhoto-Oct2013Newsletter

Busy dads often struggle finding time to spend with their teenage boys, who generally have plenty of competing activities vying for their attention. One extraordinary father-son
team who make time for each other, and who turn their time into work for the good of the community, is Curt and Chancellor Coates. Curt Coates manages a local Wal-Mart and Chancellor is an accomplished athlete and musician at Maryville High School. They team up as father and son landscapers (and sometimes even get a hand from Chancellor’s younger brother, Churchill, too). Curt’s company encourages volunteerism in the communities Wal-Mart serves by making cash donations that match volunteer hours, up to $250 per quarter. So while Curt donates his time, Wal-Mart provides funding that helps us pay Chancellor for his work. There’s a lot of good happening here: Dad and son find quality time working together. Son earns pocket money. Dad volunteers in the community. The School’s grounds are impeccably landscaped. Wal-Mart supports volunteerism. That pulls at our heartstrings!


by Leave a comment

Our Super-Joyous Spring Recital

MayRecitalPhotoOctober2013NewsletterBlog

Family and friends got to fill their hearts, souls and stomachs at the Joy of Music School Spring Recital. Through an evening of solo and duet performances, as well as ensemble pieces by the general music class, choir, ukulele class and jazz band, School students gave the crowd at First Christian Church an emotional, entertaining and inspiring reminder of why music education is so important.

The program included performances by the School’s three graduating seniors–Kristen Thames, Samuel Feier, and Peter Garlington. Like many JoMS graduates before her, Kristen, a pianist and violinist, continues her music education with a full scholarship at the UT School of Music, where she will specialize in string music education. Peter is also attending UT, and Samuel is at Pellissippi State. While it was a time to say a proud goodbye to our accomplished graduates, the recital also was a good chance to see who tomorrow’s “we knew them when”s are going to be.

And there were a lot of them. Approximately 65 students, accompanied by 15 teachers, wowed their first fans with a demonstration of what happens when the hard work and enthusiasm of youth meets the talent and dedication of our wonderful volunteers.

Though there may have been differing opinions on the highlight of the afternoon, everyone agrees the barbecue feast was a hit. Generously provided by Second Harvest Food Bank, School board members and some great friends, along with cooking and clean-up help from church members, the banquet fed 200 happy people. If you missed this year’s celebration, we look forward to seeing you next spring!